The time of circumcision and its ruling

Question

Is it written anywhere in the Qur’an that Muslims should have circumcision done? Which hadith is there about circumcision? Is having circumcision done a sunna, fard, wajib, emphasized sunna or mustahabb? Up to what age should a boy be circumcised? If circumcision is not done up to ten years, is his prayer valid or not? Is a person who has not been circumcised not a Muslim? Is food and water from the hand of an adult who has not been circumcised makruh or haram? And can he not lead the prayer as imam?

Answer

Circumcision is a sunna and is among the distinctive rites (sha‘a’ir) (of Islam). Circumcision should be done before puberty, when the child has the strength to bear (it). No narration is transmitted from Hazrat Imam A‘zam ﵀ regarding its time. Some jurists set (the age) at seven years, and some at nine years. So it is in Majma‘ al-Anhur and Tahtawi.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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